Board of Trustees

Board Of Trustees

Katie Patronis is a company partner and real estate broker with Century 21 Ryan Realty and was elected
chair of the board in July 2017 and was elected as vice chair in July 2014. Ms. Patronis
has been active with the Bay County Association of Realtors for many years, where
she once chaired the Leadership Development Program and served as the association’s
President. Ms. Patronis served as President of the FSU-PC Development Board and is
a member of the Junior Service League. She is a proud alumna of Gulf Coast Community
College and holds a bachelor's degree communications from FSU.

Jim McKnight, a native of Tampa and resident of Gulf County since 1987, is a health care executive
currently serving as the Assistant Hospital Administrator at Florida State Hospital.
He previously served as the CEO of North Florida Medical Centers, Inc., and Doctors’
Memorial Hospital. He is a board member of the Big Bend Health Council and served
as the chairman of the Gulf County Planning Board and the Gulf County Republican Party.
In his spare time he has coached high school football and baseball, and has been a
leader in a number of civic clubs and fundraising organizations including the United
Way and Relay for Life. Mr. McKnight holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from
the University of South Florida and a master's degree health services administration
from the University of St. Francis. He was elected vice chair of the board in July
2017.

Don Crisp, of Panama City Beach, served as the chair of the board July 2015 – July 2017. He
retired as vice president of First American Title Insurance and is a member and past
board chair for Panama City Port. He has previously served on the Bay County Airport
Authority and the Gulf Coast State College Foundation, as well as president of several
organizations including the Panama City Jaycees and the Bay County Chamber of Commerce
among others. He’s received several noteworthy awards, some of which include Outstanding
Young Man and the Bay County Chamber’s Lauren Merriam Memorial Award. Mr. Crisp attended
Marianna High School and Chipola College, and received his bachelor’s degree from
Florida State University.

Elizabeth Kirvin, of Apalachicola, is a licensed speech language pathologist and is currently the
assistant principal of the Apalachicola Bay Charter School. She has previously served
as a board member of Early Education and Care, Inc., the Early Learning Coalition
of Northwest Florida and was a founding board member of the Bay Community School and
the Apalachicola Bay Charter School. Ms. Kirvin received her associate’s degree at
Gulf Coast Community College and both her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Florida
State University.

Tom Lewis is a long-time local television news journalist. He is currently the News Director
at WMBB-TV. Mr. Lewis has spent more than 30 years in television broadcasting, starting
at WMBB as a reporter/weekend anchor in 1980. He graduated from Bay High School,
is a proud alumnus of Gulf Coast Community College and earned a bachelor's in communications
at FSU. Mr. Lewis has won dozens of awards for his work from the Florida Associated
Press and received the prestigious Telly Award.

Steve Millaway, a native of Panama City, is a technology entrepreneur. During his career, he has
worked for both public and private companies and started eight new businesses. He
is currently president and CEO of Techfarms, LLC, a local technology incubator. Mr.
Millaway is an investor in start-up companies and enjoys exploring opportunities in
emerging technology. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the
University of Florida.

Ralph Roberson, of Port St. Joe, served as the chair of the board July 2013 – July 2015. He is a
certified public accountant and is the owner of Roberson & Associates. From 1993 to
2001, he served on the District Board of Trustees of then Gulf Coast Community College.
Mr. Roberson is a member of the Florida Institute of CPAs, Sacred Heart Gulf Coast
Health System Finance Committee, Port St. Joe First United Methodist Church Board
of Trustees, Chair of the Operating Board of Sacred Heart Hospital, member and past
president of the Gulf County Chamber of Commerce and the Port St. Joe Rotary Club.
He completed basic studies at Florida State University, received an associate's degree
in business administration from Tallahassee Community College and a bachelor's degree in
accounting from the University of West Florida.

Joe Tannehill, Jr. is president and CEO of MERRICK Industries, Inc., a custom design capital goods manufacturing
company based in Lynn Haven, Florida, serving industrial customers worldwide. He
holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University, a
master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kentucky and a MBA
from Dartmouth College.

David Warriner is the president of Tapper and Company Properties Management, Inc., and serves as
managing director for the George G. and Amelia G. Tapper Foundation that serves the
needs in Gulf, Bay and Franklin counties. A graduate of Bay High School in Panama
City, he earned a bachelor's in business administration in finance from the University
of Florida in 1986. After graduation, he enjoyed a short career in banking and worked
as a legislative assistant in both the Florida House and Senate. Currently he serves
on the Board of Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and the Port Theatre Arts
and Culture Center. He is the chairman of the Gulf County Tourist Development Council
and is an Advisory Council Member of the Sacred Heart on the Gulf Hospital. He is
the past president of the GCSC Foundation and served on its board for 12 years.

Derrick Bennett, a native of Panama City, has practiced law in Panama City for over thirty years
and serves as General Counsel for the District Board of Trustees. Mr. Bennett holds
a bachelor's degree finance from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor from
Stetson University. He has served as a board member of Bay Medical Center, Salvation
Army, Northstar Church and as the chair of the Panama City Beach Chamber.

Dr. John Holdnak, a former Gulf Coast employee, became the sixth president of the College in 2014.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Leisure Services from Florida State University, a
master's degree in Applied Psychology from FSU Panama City and an Ed.D in Curriculum
and Instruction with an emphasis in educational leadership from University of West
Florida. He most recently served as Executive Vice Chancellor for the Florida College
System.